By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Four members of the Tennessee Tech women's golf team were recognized as All-American Scholars by the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Thursday afternoon.
Seniors Gittle Sciolis, Elisabeth Toennessen, and Katrine Toennessen, as well as sophomore Reagan Stuke, each earned the honor, making it nine straight years that the Golden Eagle women's golf team has placed at least one student-athlete on the WGCA's All-American Scholar Team. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics.
To be nominated for WGCA All-American Scholar awards, student-athletes must have an overall GPA of 3.50 or higher for their entire collegiate career and have competed in 50% of the team's competitions for the school year nominated.
"This sport not only takes perseverance to compete weekly, but it also takes an enormous amount of time," Tech head coach Amanda Smith expressed. "These ladies put forward a lot of sacrifices to complete what they need to on the course and in the classroom. I am beyond proud of this achievement that they will carry with them during and after their time in college. Congratulations to these well-deserving ladies."
The four Golden Eagles were among a group of 14 from the Ohio Valley Conference included in the 1,401 players chosen throughout every NCAA Division as well as NAIA schools.
A Bremen, Ga. native, Sciolis earned the honor for the fourth straight year after competing in 21 of the team's 27 rounds this season. She completed work on her bachelor's degree in exercise science and physical wellness with a concentration in pre-physical therapy in May, also picking up a minor in coaching.
Also becoming a four-time recipient of the honor was Elisabeth Toennessen, a native of Grimstad, Norway. After tying for the team lead with 27 rounds of golf completed on the year, she completed her bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in social science in May.
A Grimstad, Norway native as well, Katrine Toennessen picked up her second WGCA honor of her career and first since 2019-20. She competed in 18 rounds of action and then put the finishing touches on her bachelor's degree in May, majoring in economics with a minor in social science.
Rounding the group with her first career honor was sophomore Reagan Stuke, who participated in 16 rounds of play. She continued working on her bachelor's degree in exercise science and physical wellness with a concentration in fitness and wellness and minors in both science and health and wellness.
About the Women's Golf Coaches Association
The Women's Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women's collegiate golf coaches. The WGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents over 650 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting, and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.
Photos by Emily Armstrong and Ohio Valley Conference
